Contact lens case

ABSTRACT

A contact lens case made of a soft plastic is described having a reservoir therein so that the lenses can be kept immersed in a soaking solution. A simple two piece structure is provided which is easily made by injection molding and an abutment means is provided between the top and bottom of the case to prevent collapse of the case.

United States Patent Sturgeon [54] CONTACT LENS CASE [72] Inventor:Robert G. Sturgeon, Sunnyvale,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Barnes-Hind Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,

Sunnyvale, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 21 Appl. No.2 106,842

20 a2 50 Z8 zz\ 44 51 Oct. 3, 1972 3,536,082 10/ 1970 Kolbeck 134/ l 373,460,552 8/1969 Sturgeon ..206/5 A X 3,586,012 6/1971 Paule ..206/5 A XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,130,853 10/1968 Great Britain ..206/5A Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-Eckhoff & l-loppe [57] ABSTRACTA contact lens case made of a soft plastic is described having areservoir therein so that the lenses can be kept immersed in a soakingsolution. A simple two piece structure is provided which is easily madeby injection molding and an abutment means is provided between the topand bottom of the case to prevent collapse of the case.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures I PATENTEDum s m2 3.695.280 sum 2 or 2INVENTOR ATTORNEYS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has long been rocognizedthat contact lenses should be stored in a suitable soaking solution whenthey are not in use. Such storage insures that the lens will be fullyhydrated and comfortable when subsequently worn.

l-leretofore contact lens cases suitable for use with liquids have beencomplicated and bulky.

The contact lens case of the present invention is a very simplestructure and can be inexpensively molded from a soft plastic such aspolypropylene.

The case is capable of containing a substantial quantity of liquiddespite its small size. Further, the case is very compact so it can heslipped into a pocket or purse without difficulty.

The case is of such simple structure and so easily made that it isentirely practical to consider it as a disposable item which might bepackaged with a soaking or wetting solution.

Another advantage of the case of the present invention is that it sealsvery tightly so that there is no danger of leakage in a pocket or purse.Despite the tight seal, the covers are not screwed on but are merelysnapped on, largely obviating any possibility of injuring a lens. Afurther advantage of the invention is the provision of an abutmentbetween the top and bottom of the case to prevent collapse of the case.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming part of thisapplication:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contact lens case embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the case of the present invention showing it inopen position.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the contact lens case of the presentinvention with some parts cut away to illustrate the construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsby reference characters, the case of the present invention includes amain body portion generally designated 6 with two arms extending.therefrom designated 8 and 10 to which are attached the caps 12 and 14for retaining the lenses in place. The body 6 has a top plate 16 fromwhich extend the cups l8 and 20. Each of the cups has a raised wall 22and an annular rim or rib 24 spaced somewhat below the top of the wall22. The arms 8 and 10 are weakened as at 26 so that the caps 12 and 14can be easily bent over the respective cups and snapped into place. Thecaps 12 and 14 have a side wall 28 which contains an annular recess orgroove 30, the recess mating with the rim 24. The caps have small tabs13 and to aid in lifting them. The tabs also may have suitable indiciafor identifying each lens, such as the letters L and R as shown.

The bottoms of the cups are rounded as at 32 and con'nalitfoi ld'tth tlchar ber 56f e f 882%? 6 s all%v21wr3i tending flange or wall 37 and onthis is snapped the cup shaped bottom 38. The flange 37 has an annularridge or rib 40 while the sidewall of the bottom 38 has a correspondingannular recess or groove 42 so that the parts merely snap together. Acentral post 44 formed as a part of the top 6 may be provided to preventthe case from being crushed if it is subjected to pressure in a pocketor the like.

In use, it is only necessary that the case be filled with a suitablewetting or soaking solution by pouring the solution in through one ofthe openings 34. Lenses, shown in phantom as 46 and 48 are thendeposited in the cups and the respective caps folded over and snappedinto place as is shown in the left hand portion of FIG. 1.

I claim:

1. A contact lens case for carrying contact lenses immersed in a soakingsolution, comprising a housing having a cup-shaped bottom, said bottomincluding a bottom wall and a peripheral, upstanding side wall, a topincluding a top plate and a depending annular side wall on the bottomsurface thereof, said depending annular side wall spaced inwardly fromthe marginal edge of said top plate and engaged at its outer surfacewith the inner surface of said upstanding side wall, cooperating annularrib and groove means on the confronting surfaces of said side wallseffecting a sealed snap fit therebetween, said top and bottom defining areservoir for liquid therebetween, a pair of contact lens receiving cupsin said top plate in side-by-side relationship to one another, each saidcup including a perforated bottom extending downwardly below the topplate and into said reservoir and an annular raised wall extending abovethe top plate, a pair of caps integrally joined to said top by a pair offlexible straps integrally connected at opposite ends to the top and tothe caps, respectively, said straps each having a weakened portiontherein to facilitate flexure thereof and positioning of said caps oversaid upstanding walls of said contact lens receiving cups to close saidcups, cooperating annular rib and groove means on said raised walls andsaid caps effecting a sealed snap fit therebetween, and abutment meansintegral with said top plate on the underside thereof between saidcontact lens receiving cups and projecting downwardly toward said bottomwall and in juxtaposition therewith to engage the bottom wall andprevent deflection of said top plate toward said bottom wall whenpressure is exerted on said top plate or bottom wall.

2. A contact lens case as in claim 1, wherein said abutment meanscomprises a central post on the underside of said top plate.

3. A contact lens case as in claim 2, wherein said case is made of asoft plastic material.

4. A contact lens case as in claim 3, wherein said annular ribs are onthe outer circumference or surface of said raised walls and saiddepending side wall, and said annular grooves are in the caps and theinner circumference or surface of said upstanding side wall.

1. A contact lens case for carrying contact lenses immersed in a soakingsolution, comprising a housing having a cup-shaped bottom, said bottomincluding a bottom wall and a peripheral, upstanding side wall, a topincluding a top plate and a depending annular side wall on the bottomsurface thereof, said depending annular side wall spaced inwardly fromthe marginal edge of said top plate and engaged at its outer surfacewith the inner surface of said upstanding side wall, cooperating annularrib and groove means on the confronting surfaces of said side wallseffecting a sealed snap fit therebetween, said top and bottom defining areservoir for liquid therebetween, a pair of contact lens receiving cupsin said top plate in side-by-side relationship to one another, each saidcup including a perforated bottom extending downwardly below the topplate and into said reservoir and an annular raised wall extending abovethe top plate, a pair of caps integrally joined to said top by a pair offlexible straps integrally connected at opposite ends to the top and tothe caps, respectively, said straps each having a weakened portiontherein to facilitate flexure thereof and positioning of said caps oversaid upstanding walls of said contact lens receiving cups to close saidcups, cooperating annular rib and groove means on said raised walls andsaid caps effecting a sealed snap fit therebetween, and abutment meansintegral with said top plate on the underside thereof between saidcontact lens receiving cups and projecting downwardly toward said bottomwall and in juxtaposition therewith to engage the bottom wall andprevent deflection of said top plate toward said bottom wall whenpressure is exerted on said top plate or bottom wall.
 2. A contact lenscase as in claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a central poston the underside of said top plate.
 3. A contact lens case as in claim2, wherein said case is made of a soft plastic material.
 4. A contactlens case as in claim 3, wherein said annular ribs are on the outercircumference or surface of said raised walls and said depending sidewall, and said annular grooves are in the caps and the innercircumference or surface of said upstanding side wall.